Throughout the world, the blind or visually-impaired use white canes for safe, reliable navigation, and to help the sighted person recognize the user’s visual impairment..

Today, white cane laws are on the books in every U.S. state, and in a few other countries, giving persons who are blind a legal status in traffic. The white cane everywhere acknowledges that the bearer is blind.

Sharpening public awareness of the white cane has been a passionate cause for Lions Club members everywhere, including the Auburn Noon Lions, according to Lion and former Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis.

“This is part of the main mission Helen Keller gave to The Lions at a national convention when she said, ‘I appeal to you Lions, will you not constitute yourselves knights of the blind in this crusade against blindness?’” Lewis explained.

Seems the Lions listened.

For decades, the Auburn Noon Lions have held their annual White Cane Safety Days to raise awareness of the white cane, which can be a matter of life or death for the blind or visually impaired, especially when they are trying to navigate fast moving traffic without getting clobbered.

On May 10 and May 11, 2025, the Auburn Noon Lions will hold the annual White Cane Safety Days at the Fred Meyer Grocery Store in Auburn. The event includes separate areas for children of all ages with Easter eggs, treats and prizes.

In 1921, according to the International Lions website, an accident blinded a photographer from Bristol, England, named James Biggs. Keenly aware of the traffic near his home, Biggs painted his walking stick white so people could spot him more easily.

In 1930, Lion George A. Bonham, President of the Peoria Lions Club (Illinois), suggested wrapping a red band on the cane to help the blind become less reliant on others to live their lives. The club approved the idea, white canes were made and distributed, and the Peoria City Council adopted an ordinance, giving the bearers the right-of-way to cross the street.

News of the Peoria club’s activity spread to other Lions clubs throughout the United States, including the Auburn Noon Lions. Overwhelming acceptance quickly gave white cane users a way to identify their special need for travel consideration among their sighted counterparts.

According to Lewis, the Auburn Noon Lions are behind many events.

The Auburn Noon Lions club began in 1937, but with WWII, it was shut down, then restarted in 1947. The Easter Egg Hunt and Christmas Families were the first community events done. The original hunts were held at City Park, now Veterans Park, until the Lions moved them to Les Gove.

Easter egg hunt

The Auburn Noon Lions will hold its 78th Annual Easter Egg Hunt on April 19 at Les Gove Park. The event starts at 1 p.m. sharp and is usually done by 1:05 p.m., so please be there early.

Members of the Auburn Noon Lions set up taped areas by age group and work to make sure all the little ones get a treat. There are hundreds of eggs, all contain a prize with some big prizes shown by a piece of paper inside the egg. There’s also a visit by the Easter Bunny with pictures. The event includes separate areas for children of all ages with Easter eggs, treats and prizes.